There are many different ways to define a robot, along with many different types of robots. Robots can be divided into types by their application and/or how they move (or don’t). Nowadays, robots are able to carry out many different tasks in various fields. Here are the different types of robots we feel are the most important by application:

Industrial Robots

An industrial robot is a robot used in a manufacturing environment. They are typically designed to move materials and parts as well as perform a variety of programmed tasks. These robots are often used to do tasks too hard or dangerous for humans to perform. Some typical applications that these robots perform are welding, painting, packaging, assembly, and testing.

Domestic/ Household Robots

A domestic robot is a robot used mainly at home. They are typically used for chores in and around the house. These types of robots includes ones such as vacuum cleaners, pool cleaners, sweepers, and other robots that can do other various chores. A popular robot in this case would be the Roomba, the robotic vacuum cleaner for homes.

Medical Robots

A medical robot is a robot used in medicine and medical institutions. They include, in most cases, surgical robots. But in some other instances can include automated guiding vehicles or lifting aides.

Military & Security Robots

A military robot is an autonomous or remote controlled robot designed for military applications such as bomb disposal, reconnaissance drones, or transportation robots. Robots created for this field are now starting to be used in fields such as law enforcement and search and rescue. 

Drones

A drone, also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), is an aircraft without a human aboard. A drone is usually operated by a person on the ground with a controller. They can be used for hobbyists, photography, or even military.

Space Robots

A space robot is only used in space, in places like the Moon, Mars, and the International Space Station. A popular robot in this category includes the Mars Rover. 

Hobby & Competition Robots

A hobby or competition robot is one that a person created either for fun or for a competition. Some robots in this category include racing bots, sumo bots, and even robots that can play sports.